let the right one in. Films and play

The play of ‘Let the Right One In’ is based on the Swedish film ‘Låt den rätte komma in’, which is actually based on a book by John Ajvide Lindqvist. The play is about a 12 year old boy named Oskar. Oskar comes from a broken home and is constantly bullied by two other boys named Micke and Jonny. Oskar is all alone, until he meets Eli, a girl around the same age. At first Eli tells Oskar they cannot be friends but as time goes on they get closer and closer. Eli had just recently moved into the house next door to Oskar with Hakan, a man assumed to be her father. Around the same time that Eli and Hakan arrive in the small town, a spree of murders start. As the play goes on Eli and Oskar become very close friends. Oskar still thinks that Eli is a little weird but this is why they get on as Oskar is quite strange himself. In the film Oskar collects newspaper articles about murders and often pretends to be killing someone with his pocket knife. The murders in the town were actually committed by Hakan, who is not actually Eli’s father, but instead her protector. Hakan has been killing these people so that he can drain their blood to give to Eli, who is actually a vampire.

Eli rarely commits these murders herself; this is perhaps due to her still feeling guilty for killing. This is why she needs someone to kill for her. It is stated in the book that Eli is around 200 years old. This would mean that she has had many protectors like Hakan. Hakan is only around 50 years old so he would be her third or fourth protector. The reason she is befriending Oskar is because she needs someone to take over from Hakan when he is no longer able to provide for her. Throughout the play Eli tries to prepare Oskar for the job she wants him to do. She does this first by telling him to fight back against the bullies and tells him to use his knife.

The film and the play have some very different portrayals of characters. For example, in the play Eli is more loving towards Hakan, whereas in the film she is merely using him. This is shown in the scene where Hakan dies. In the play Eli is genuinely upset and hurt by having to kill Hakan. However in the film she doesn’t seem to care at all. This is shown by the lack of compassion she gives Hakan before she kills him and throws him out of the hospital window. Eli the goes straight to Oskar’s house and spends the night with him. She does this because she needs to build her relationship with him a lot faster now that Hakan is out of the picture.

Later on Oskar and Eli are spending time together and Oskar asks Eli if she wants to make a bond with him. He then cuts his hand and asks Eli to do the same. Eli’s thirst for blood over takes her and she leaps to the floor and tells Oskar to leave or he is going to die. Oskar runs off but still wants to be friends with Eli. This shows that Oskar wants to be with Eli even though she is this monster. Oskar starts to work out what she is but this doesn’t scare him and he continues to be friends with Eli. This is exactly what Eli needs as she needs Oskar to be prepared to kill for her.

Further into the play Oskar is ice skating with his class, presumably during a P.E lesson. When the teacher isn’t paying attention Micke and Jonny attempt to hurt Oskar and they threaten they are going to dump him in the water. In an attempt to stop them Oskar attacks Jonny and hits him in the ear and Jonny falls to the floor. In the Film Oskar takes great pleasure in this and smiles at the sight of the pain he has inflicted. This shows that in the film Oskar has some sadistic qualities. However in the play Oskar is more shocked at what he has done and feels extremely guilty for it.

As Eli and Oskar’s relationship builds Oskar becomes more and more attached to Eli. He spends the night with her and looks over her as she sleeps. This demonstrates that Oskar has now fully taken his role as her protector. Further into the scene he is even willing to kill for her when the police turn up to investigate Hakan further. However Eli doesn’t allow him to kill this man and instead kills him herself. This shows that Eli has actually developed compassion towards Oskar and doesn’t want to take over his life. Eli then leaves and makes Oskar stay and let the light in. She wants him to let the light into her house so that she can never return. After this Oskar isn’t quite sure what to do. He sits on the jungle gym and does nothing. This is when Micke appears and convinces him to come to strength training. Micke does this because Jimmy (Jonny’s older brother) wants to get revenge on Oskar for hurting his younger brother. When at the swimming pool Jimmy attempts to drown Oskar. However Eli appears and kills Jimmy and the bullies. This is again where the play and film differ. In the play Eli gets Oskar out of the pool and they say how they are glad to see each other again. In the film Eli and Oskar don’t say a word to each other. Instead Eli maintains eye contact with Oskar. This could be to shield him from the violence that has just occurred.

writing in role

What is Jimmy planning? He told me to make sure Oskar was at strength training on Thursdays and that if I didn't make sure he would show up I'd be in for it. I don't know what to do. Like Oskar hurt Jonny and deserves whatever Jimmy is going to do to him. But this is Jimmy I'm talking about. He's crazy. Jonny told me this one story about how a teacher failed Jimmy so Jimmy fallowed him home to his house and, well, that teacher ended up in the hospital. He done that to a grown up. What could he do to me. Im half his side and 6 years younger than him. I don't know what I'm meant to do. I've got to get Oskar and have him put in the hospital or not do what Jimmy says and risk being beaten up myself. Is this what Oskar feels like? Being this scared of going outside. Maybe i'll pretend to be sick. Jimmy can't blame me if I'm sick can he. I wouldn't put it past him.

I remember the first time I met Jimmy. I went to knock for Jonny to see if he was going strength training that week. And Jimmy opened the door. I remember that angry look he gave me when I asked where Jonny is. He called me a 'cunt' and slammed the door. I didn't know what was going on. I asked Jonny at school about it and he told me not to be a nosey prick. I asked around and was told about Jimmy. I heard so many stories about him. He was kicked out of the school when he was only 15 for hitting a teacher with a chair. Whenever I'm around Jimmy I try and make myself look big so that maybe he will think I'm cool. So far it has worked. I just make fun on other people and make sure I don't make Jonny mad.

It him or me, either Piggy suffers or I do. It's not my fault. I'm being made to do it. If I don't help Jimmy then I'm going to be in big trouble. Jimmy is a crazy. I don't want to end up on the wrong side of him. If I'm with him then whats the worst that could happen?

my character from another's point of view

Mr Avila's school report for Micke Slyvich

Micke is at the stage in life where he is trying to present himself as the alpha male. This is benefits him greatly in the strength training classes on a Thursday night. He is always on time for class but he is always slacking off with a number of other students. The smallest thing that Micke constantly does is wear his hat in class. Every lesson I ask him to leave it in the changing rooms but when he arrives in the hall, there it is. I confiscate it and tell him not to wear it to class.

Micke always tries his hardest when we do a sport for lesson and he has a friendly competition with Jonny and Freddie. This means that they always try to up each other and this means he always achieves his goals and more. Whenever I plan for them to play a team based game, Micke always pairs with Jonny. They have even created the team name 'The Pig Hunters' This is a great way to create moral for them and they always seem to win any sport I make them play.

The only aspect in which Micke is slacking is the Pummel Horse. Micke always jumps over it but he is always nervous about jumping it. If he keeps working as hard as he does he will be able to jump the Pummel without any fear. Micke also slacks when it comes to push ups. He always tries but he can never do more than ten before he starts to struggle. He isn't however bottom of that class which is good and he makes up for it from other aspects in class.

As Mickes form tutor I get a report from all of his teachers. Micke is slacking off in most of his subjects and needs to pull his grades up. This is his second year at this school and he needs to settle in more and try to stop slacking off and try harder in all of his lessons. If he studies more, hands in his homework on time and try to work hard in lessons he should be able achieve at least a C in all of his subjects. He has almost achieved a C in his English and Religious Studies. But he is failing Art and Citizenship, however he is struggling in Maths, History and Science.

English: D

Maths: E

P.E: B

R.E: D

Art: F

Science: E

Citizenship: F

History: E

death scene

In the scene where Micke, Jonny and Jimmy are killed by Eli the script was not very detailed on how the characters were killed. We decided that we wanted to have one final movement piece for the death scene. To create the scene we found a song that we wanted to use. We started the movement by deciding where we were going to stand and how Amanda could start. She starts off by grabbing us one by one and throwing us to each side of the stage. I go to the right, Danny is in the middle and Steve to the right. We then decided that Amanda should focus most on Danny at this point as he is the one whose character has had the most impact on Oskar. Eli (Amanda) drags Jonny (Danny) to the centre stage and grabs him by the neck. Steve and I then run in and lift him up. This is to demonstrate the strength the Eli really has. Danny is then dropped and falls to the floor. At this point I am standing over Danny and Steve is stage right. Steve then had the idea of Amanda throwing him over me as I bent over to check if Danny's character was alright. Steve rolls over my back and falls stage left. Then it is only me standing on stage besides Amanda.

I had the idea that Micke (My character) should reach out his arm and try to help Danny but he is then grabbed by Eli, swung around and thrown into Jimmy (Steve) This represented the fact that Eli can manipulate us and use our own strength against us, we are completely helpless and can do nothing to stop her. Steve and I then get up and run at Eli in hopes of attacking her. She then uses her powers and pushes Steve and I down by the chests. She then throws Danny over her back and all three of us try to run away. Amanda then stomps the floor and all three of us fall over. Steve is then dragged by Amanda (who is centre stage and doesn't actually touch Steve, instead acts like Steve is her puppet and pulls him by his strings) and throws him to stage right. She then does the same to me. We wanted to show here that Eli has total control over us and that all our efforts to escape are in vane. Amanda then puppets Danny and throws him into me. I am then spun around again and thrown towards Steve who jumps over me. Amanda then puppets Steve and Danny and throws them into each other from separate sides of the stage. I then get up and try to run to the exit. But my escape attempt is cut short by Eli, who grabs me and starts to strangle me. She then Snaps my neck and throws me to the back of stage left. When Amanda grabs me, I decided that I should struggle as little as possible but make it look like I am trying to escape. I wanted it to look like my character is completely helpless and is at complete mercy to Eli. This was to demonstrate that Micke never was actually as strong as he is made out to be. Throughout the play he bullies Oskar and tries to make himself look like a 'big man' But now he is shown to be what he really is. Just a young child who made some bad choices.

writing in role

Why was he in the sandpit? He knows that me and Jonny hang out at that park so why would he sit in a kids sandpit. He's too big for a sandpit. I tried to help him, I knew that Jonny was going to be there in a second, I had to get rid of him. But, I was too late. As soon as I told him to leave Jonny showed up. I don't know if he heard me tell Oskar to leave but he didn't mention it and knowing Jonny he would have started something if he did.

I don't want to be friends with Oskar, I don't. It just that day I just wasn't in the mood, I just wanted to get home and read the comic dad bought me. The only reason I was in the park was to kill time so that mum an' dad would stop arguing. They always argue when I just want to chill in my room. I can always hear them, hear my mum screaming 'I DON'T WANT HIM GOING OFF TO SUMMER CAMP, LAST TIME HE MET THAT ROTTEN KID JONNY!' Bloody hell they act like I can't hear them. They always look for reasons to argue. I didn't even meet Jonny at summer camp, I met him at strength training. Anyway Oskar was sitting in a sandpit throwing rocks that would cut the kids feet. Why he is such an idiot. WHY WAS HE IN THE SANDPIT! He got what was coming to him. It was his own fault.

character profile

Name: Micke Slyvich

Age: 12

Profession: School child

Hair colour: Brown

Eye colour: Blue

Interests: Swimming, Track, Ice skating

Dislike: Mr Avila, School

Friends: Jonny (best friend) Oskar (Old forgotten friend) Jimmy (Jonny's older brother)

Enemies: Oskar (Bullies Oskar)

Family: Mum and Dad (Only child)

Clothes: Often wears a, red checkered shirt, jeans, converse shoes, a red body warmer and a beanie.

Defining characteristics: Always wears his hat.

Micke isn't a very pleasant boy. He constantly bullies Oskar and even goes as far as to try and throw him into an iced lake. However Micke also tries to help Oskar which is shown when Oskar is in the sand pit and Micke tries to make him leave before Jonny shows up. Micke is not a bully by nature. The only reason he bullies Oskar is because Jonny does. Micke isn't necessarily scared of Jonny like Oskar is. Micke is instead worried by Jonny's older brother Jimmy. Jimmy is a very sadistic character. Micke and Jonny would never go as far as Jimmy does. The furthest we see Micke and Jonny go is making Oskar eat sand. They are more extreme than most cases of bullying but they would never go as far as Jimmy and try to kill Oskar. In the second to last scene of the play Micke and Jonny are distant from the attempt to drown Oskar. Even though they are both present neither would have made any difference if they weren't there. Micke clearly still wants to be friends with Oskar and feels that all three of them could be friends if Oskar would stop acting like such an idiot. Micke doesn't want to bully Oskar but he is always put in situations where Jonny will take advantage of the fact that Oskar is so helpless.

Key quotes:

'You don't help yourself, you know that?'

'We know you're in there Piggy'

'We all miss you at strength training'

'Don't struggle Piggy'

'SHIT SIR, SIR'

Writing in role as another character

Police report by Police commissioner Halmburg. Date: 20th March

Upon receiving a form from the local council. I have discovered a house has been recently rented to a man named Hakan Kolmstun. I believe that this man is directly related to the investigation. The dates on the forms show the man moved in only a few days before the first body was discovered in the woods. Upon further investigation of the bodies we found the blood had been drained from two different places on the neck. The first body had a clean cut to the front of the neck. We have received statements from the men who found the body and they have stated they heard someone running in the woods. We believe that this to be Kolmstun.

However the second body was very suspicious. Instead of a single clean cut to the front of the neck. We discovered a large hole in the right of his neck. The victim had again lost a lot of blood but there was very little blood at the body's location. We have believe the body was moved. Due to it being in a secluded, out of the way area, we believe that the body was hidden here temporarily and the murderer was planning on returning to the site to properly dispose of the victims body. However after a lengthy stake out no one returned to the murder scene.

I was on my way to question Mr Kolmstun when I received a call from the station. They told me the sports teacher from the local school has asked us send the police as their has been a break in and the children may be in danger. When I arrived at the scene I found a young boy unconscious being attended to by medical personnel and the suspect lying on the floor of the changing room who was also being treated. We discovered the suspects face has been severally burnt. We believe he used a form of acid to scar his face so we could not identify him. This leads us to believe that he has been working with a partner and has been seen with this person in public. I have a strong suspicious that this man is either Hakan Kolmstun or working with him. I wanted to take the suspect down to the station for questioning, however he required immediate medical attention.